Confession 118

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī took on mourning women as her students. Those mourning bhikkhunīs didn’t recite suttas, didn’t discuss (dhamma), and didn’t sit in meditation. The bhikkhunīs asked: “Why don’t you recite suttas, discuss (dhamma), and sit in meditation?” They answered: “Good women, because our father died, our mother died, our brothers died, our sisters died, our children died, or our husbands died, we’re gieving. How could we recite suttas, discuss (dhamma), and sit in meditation?”

Among the bhikkhunīs were those of few wishes, who knew moderation and practised the austerities. When they heard of this matter, their minds weren’t pleased, and they criticized (Thullanandā) with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called a bhikkhunī when you take on mourning women as your students?” Having criticized her with all kinds of reasons, they explained it to the Buddha in detail. The Buddha gathered both sanghas because of this matter. He knew, and intentionally asked Thullanandā bhikkhunī: “Did you really do this?” She answered: “I really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha criticized her with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called a bhikkhunī when you take on mourning women as your students?” Having criticized her with all kinds of reasons, he said to the bhikkhus: “For 10 benefits, I’ll lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs. From now on, this precept should be recited thus:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī takes on a mourning woman as her student, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“Pācittiya” means burn, cook, cover, obstruct. If she doesn’t confess the offense, it can obstruct the path.

Herein, this is an offense: If a bhikkhunī takes on a mourning woman as her student, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she takes one on, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 118.)